| Established | June 24, 2010 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Funmi Olonisakin |
Parent institution | King's College London |
| Affiliation | University of Nairobi |
| Director | Eka Ikpe |
| Location | London and Nairobi |
| Website | ALC website |
The African Leadership Centre (ALC) [1] is a research [2] and teaching institution jointly established by King's College London in the United Kingdom, and the University of Nairobi in Kenya. [3] [4] [5]
Alongside its policy-oriented programmes and the award of academic degrees in leadership, peace, security, and development, the ALC also offers a postgraduate non-degree programme for emerging women leaders and professionals. The centre serves as a hub for academic research, postgraduate training, and policy engagement. [6]
The ALC was founded on 24 June 2010 by Professor Funmi Olonisakin of King’s College London, who also served as its first director.
Conceived as a partnership between King's College London and the University of Nairobi, the centre was designed to develop a next generation of African leaders producing cutting edge knowledge on peace, security and development in Africa. [7] The mission of the centre is to achieve personal transformation for young Africans, who will in turn seek to change their communities.
A sister institution, ALC Nairobi, was formally established under Kenyan law as an educational trust. It operates in partnership with King’s College London and the University of Nairobi, and focuses on transforming Africa through academic training and policy formulation. [8]
The centre offers non-academic programmes for emerging women leaders and professionals, as well as a range of academic pathways, including fellowships, [9] master’s degrees, and doctoral studies in leadership, peace, security, and development. [10] [11] [12] The centre also supports postdoctoral research and leadership training initiatives.
ALC is part of the School of Global Affairs within the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy at King’s College London. It maintains collaborations with universities, think tanks, and international organisations.
Each year, the centre organises Africa Week, a programme of academic and public events showcasing research, education, and outreach activities related to African peace, security, and development. [13]
The centre also holds the annual Peter da Costa Memorial Lecture Series to honour the legacy of the late Dr Peter da Costa, former vice-chair of the ALC Board of Trustees, who died in 2019. [14]